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**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 06:31 AM

10 years ago the goal was to get as many children playing soccer as possible. Your post in many respects substantiates that that goal has been achieved. The real issue now in my honest opinion is the levelling is all wrong because everything is based upon age groups not ability groups and there is no real upward movement of talented players between different age levels. It creates an artificial bottleneck that effectively throttles the development of all of the players. The "All Star" team application that GPS and NEFC are using is just another form of marketing hype to appease the parents who feed off those sort of labels. If they really wanted to do it right they would at least half the number of "Elite" teams by combining age groups and then place the players more by ability than their age like they do in most other soccer playing countries. The problem with that though is that so many parents take insult to their child being labeled a "B" or "C" team level player (even though they have no desire to actually travel the "A" team route) and that tends to hurt club revenue. This current environment allows those parents to take their "C" level player and put them on some club's "A" team so everyone can smile.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

The greater the number of teams that a club has the easier it is to deflect parental questions as to whether or not their child is getting the best coaching and competition that they can get. GPS/MPS has always been good at this.

By forming the GPS NPL teams they have done what many wondered whether it would ever get done. By combining the best players in their entire organization they finally have their all-star teams. What it is has done, however, is to have reduced the importance of 80-90% of their teams.

Prior to the NPL, there were 4 regions, each with an Elite and Select team, the former team rostering the best of that region. Now those four regions (eight teams) have significantly less meaning and play in the lower divisions while the one NPL team is the bigger focus. The question is whether or not GPS will start losing players from the non-NPL teams. I don't think that GPS will care since their lower teams have always been a revolving door, but the numbers may be greater than they anticipated.

To maintain, they would have to keep their NPL teams playing regional teams and let the different regions play in the top divisions of the local leagues for the appearance of having a greater focus and importance.

One strategy is to have 'fluid rosters' that allows the GPS coaches to move kids up and down giving hope to the lesser teams. This is great for the clubs but a tease for the borderline kids and, or course, parents.

If and when the NPL teams falter then the club will become significantly less......perhaps similar to what happened to the Bolts with the DAP when they lost complete interest in all non-DAP teams.

Here is my QUESTION: Has the youth soccer landscape changed so much that youth soccer is worse and the players are weaker? The talent is now diluted over multiple teams and leagues, the former resulting from the many clubs and the many teams each club has, while the latter being the many leagues and divisions within each league. In addition, we now have two state cups.....well sort of. There is one state cup and one NEP championship. After for regional play there is Region 1, EDP, NPL, PreDAP, and DAP. Then, if we need to include in the discussion, at least two national championships.....Region 1,2,3,4; NPL, and DAP

Has this expansion made anything better......or worse???? One concern may be the increased demand for coaches with a lowering of the license standard and, perhaps less concern as to whether or not a coach can deal with kids.

You missed another GLARING insight that GPS exposed when they created their "all star" NPL teams. Those teams can't compete with the top teams at other clubs. This has exposed GPS' whole development philosophy as not working and inadequate.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 07:30 AM

Thank you BTNT. Sorry the soccer system has failed you so miserably. Keep the faith, and keep the fight alive for the reforms you cherish. Good luck!

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

10 years ago the goal was to get as many children playing soccer as possible. Your post in many respects substantiates that that goal has been achieved. The real issue now in my honest opinion is the levelling is all wrong because everything is based upon age groups not ability groups and there is no real upward movement of talented players between different age levels. It creates an artificial bottleneck that effectively throttles the development of all of the players. The "All Star" team application that GPS and NEFC are using is just another form of marketing hype to appease the parents who feed off those sort of labels. If they really wanted to do it right they would at least half the number of "Elite" teams by combining age groups and then place the players more by ability than their age like they do in most other soccer playing countries. The problem with that though is that so many parents take insult to their child being labeled a "B" or "C" team level player (even though they have no desire to actually travel the "A" team route) and that tends to hurt club revenue. This current environment allows those parents to take their "C" level player and put them on some club's "A" team so everyone can smile.

Very true.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Thank you BTNT. Sorry the soccer system has failed you so miserably. Keep the faith, and keep the fight alive for the reforms you cherish. Good luck!

Don't need luck when your kids actually have talent and Mommy and Daddy don't have to pay through the nose to grease the skids for them.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Very true.

All these parents are desparate to brag about their kids. At the coffee machine, cocktail party, BBQ - wherever - dad or mom needs to be able to say "my kid is on the elite team over at xyz club, and they won again last weekend." The only way to keep the max number of parents happy is to create so many leagues, bogus tournaments, and top teams that every parent gets to claim a ribbon for best parent, best genes, best nurturer of a stud athlete, etc. It happens in just about every sport where quantification is impossible; soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball. In the sports where a precise measurement clearly separates the studs from the wannabe's, like swimming, running or golf, it's much harder to make everyone out to be elite.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Don't need luck when your kids actually have talent and Mommy and Daddy don't have to pay through the nose to grease the skids for them.

Despite his daughter's talent, BTDT has bragged over the years how he has "managed" her development to get maximum opportunities and the best possible development. If that's not greasing the skids, I don't know what is.

I've always thought it pretty amusing how BTDT tries to play both sides of this issue. On the one hand, he preaches the need for pure talent, and subtly puts down other top players as not being truly exceptional talents. On the other hand, his ego demands that he show how brilliant and connected he is and how he has deftly managed her career.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

All these parents are desparate to brag about their kids. At the coffee machine, cocktail party, BBQ - wherever - dad or mom needs to be able to say "my kid is on the elite team over at xyz club, and they won again last weekend." The only way to keep the max number of parents happy is to create so many leagues, bogus tournaments, and top teams that every parent gets to claim a ribbon for best parent, best genes, best nurturer of a stud athlete, etc. It happens in just about every sport where quantification is impossible; soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball. In the sports where a precise measurement clearly separates the studs from the wannabe's, like swimming, running or golf, it's much harder to make everyone out to be elite.

Most parents don't really have a clue and many of the kids don't either. We see kids who play at the highest levels make some horrible decisions and can't read the field but a win is a win.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:10 PM

When you think about it, club sports right now are the only environment where you end up with a future low level D3 athlete playing right beside a future high level D1 athlete in the same starting line up. In every other instance there is a thinning out process that takes place which promotes the better players and cuts the weaker ones.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

When you think about it, club sports right now are the only environment where you end up with a future low level D3 athlete playing right beside a future high level D1 athlete in the same starting line up. In every other instance there is a thinning out process that takes place which promotes the better players and cuts the weaker ones.

What a slug you are, BTDT. Go cry to NEFC and hold them hostage for even more.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

When you think about it, club sports right now are the only environment where you end up with a future low level D3 athlete playing right beside a future high level D1 athlete in the same starting line up. In every other instance there is a thinning out process that takes place which promotes the better players and cuts the weaker ones.

Great point. The pyramid is now incredibly flat for the majority of teams in a bunch of sports. If you think club soccer is bad, check out club field hockey, volleyball and basketball (I don't know enough about lacrosse to comment, but I'd bet it's similar). Some of these top field hockey teams have potential D1 impact players playing alongside HS JV players, and basketball is worse. In the AAU basketball world, what used to be a universe of 5-10 teams per age group (for an entire market) is now a universe of 50+ teams. Until you get to the semi's of major showcase tournaments, your kid could play an entire season and not face a single player w/ D1 talent.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

All these parents are desparate to brag about their kids. At the coffee machine, cocktail party, BBQ - wherever - dad or mom needs to be able to say "my kid is on the elite team over at xyz club, and they won again last weekend." The only way to keep the max number of parents happy is to create so many leagues, bogus tournaments, and top teams that every parent gets to claim a ribbon for best parent, best genes, best nurturer of a stud athlete, etc. It happens in just about every sport where quantification is impossible; soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball. In the sports where a precise measurement clearly separates the studs from the wannabe's, like swimming, running or golf, it's much harder to make everyone out to be elite.

You act like you're making some insightful point (that you've offered thousands of times). Guess what kids ALL parents like to talk about the most? Their own. Just like you.

**Unregistered** · 05-21-2015, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

You act like you're making some insightful point (that you've offered thousands of times). Guess what kids ALL parents like to talk about the most? Their own. Just like you.

Thanks for the very insightful post.

**Unregistered** · 05-25-2015, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

The greater the number of teams that a club has the easier it is to deflect parental questions as to whether or not their child is getting the best coaching and competition that they can get. GPS/MPS has always been good at this.

By forming the GPS NPL teams they have done what many wondered whether it would ever get done. By combining the best players in their entire organization they finally have their all-star teams. What it is has done, however, is to have reduced the importance of 80-90% of their teams.

Prior to the NPL, there were 4 regions, each with an Elite and Select team, the former team rostering the best of that region. Now those four regions (eight teams) have significantly less meaning and play in the lower divisions while the one NPL team is the bigger focus. The question is whether or not GPS will start losing players from the non-NPL teams. I don't think that GPS will care since their lower teams have always been a revolving door, but the numbers may be greater than they anticipated.

To maintain, they would have to keep their NPL teams playing regional teams and let the different regions play in the top divisions of the local leagues for the appearance of having a greater focus and importance.

One strategy is to have 'fluid rosters' that allows the GPS coaches to move kids up and down giving hope to the lesser teams. This is great for the clubs but a tease for the borderline kids and, or course, parents.

If and when the NPL teams falter then the club will become significantly less......perhaps similar to what happened to the Bolts with the DAP when they lost complete interest in all non-DAP teams.

Here is my QUESTION: Has the youth soccer landscape changed so much that youth soccer is worse and the players are weaker? The talent is now diluted over multiple teams and leagues, the former resulting from the many clubs and the many teams each club has, while the latter being the many leagues and divisions within each league. In addition, we now have two state cups.....well sort of. There is one state cup and one NEP championship. After for regional play there is Region 1, EDP, NPL, PreDAP, and DAP. Then, if we need to include in the discussion, at least two national championships.....Region 1,2,3,4; NPL, and DAP

Has this expansion made anything better......or worse???? One concern may be the increased demand for coaches with a lowering of the license standard and, perhaps less concern as to whether or not a coach can deal with kids.

Yes. That's the answer you were looking for and already knew.